True Colors

By Jill Santopolo

The Sparkle Spa salon has never been busier—which is why it’s a big problem when a broken arm puts Brooke out of commission!

When Brooke breaks her arm, it’s disastrous timing for the Sparkle Spa. The Auden Angels soccer team needs Rainbow Sparkles pedicures for good luck in the quarter finals. The girls in the Fall Dance recital are counting on the Sparkle Spa to make them look awesome. And Brooke can’t possibly do manis and pedis with one hand! Aly needs help—and she needs it fast. So when Brooke’s best friend Sophie proves she’s a super fantastic manicurist, Aly hires her. But when Brooke finds out what her sister’s been up to behind her back, can she see reason instead of red?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Aladdin
• Release date: Oct 7, 2014
• ISBN: 9781442473911

Jill Santopolo

Jill Santopolo, a children’s book editor, grew up in Hewlett, New York. She graduated from Columbia University and received a MFA from Vermont College. She is the author of two middle grade mysteries as well as the Sparkle Spa series and lives in New York City. You can visit her online at JillSantopolo.com.

Book preview

one

Not-So-Mellow Yellow

Give that back! Brooke Tanner yelled as she chased her puppy around the living room couch and underneath the leaves of a rubber plant. Sparkly, I mean it!"

But Sparkly didn’t listen. With Brooke’s glittery Not-So-Mellow Yellow—colored hair band hanging out of his tiny mouth, the puppy raced up the steps and then back down. Brooke was at his heels.

Sparkly, stop! Brooke shouted. Now! Stop!

Maybe if you stopped chasing him, he’d stop running! Aly Tanner called from the kitchen. It was early Tuesday morning, and Aly was preparing two bowls of cereal for breakfast: a purple bowl for herself, and a pink one for her younger sister, Brooke. Both bowls had granola inside. And blueberries.

But I want my hair band! Brooke shouted back to her sister.

Like I said, if you want it back, just stop running! Aly yelled into the living room.

But what if he eats it when I stop? Brooke sped into the kitchen after Sparkly, who leapt over the girls’ backpacks. Brooke leapt over them too, but her sneaker caught in her backpack strap and—bam!—she crashed to the ground.

Ow! she screamed. Ow! Ow! Ow!

Aly went running over. For a minute she wondered if Brooke was fine and just being dramatic, which was the case with Brooke a lot of the time. But tears were running down Brooke’s cheeks, and she was holding her arm against her stomach.

I heard it crack, Aly, she sobbed. Get Mom.

Now it was Aly’s turn to race through the house, ducking under the leaves of the rubber plant, flying around furniture and then up the stairs until she got to their parents’ bathroom.

Brooke fell! She thinks her arm is broken! Aly pounded on the door, yelling over the sound of a hair dryer.

What did you say, sweetie? the girls’ mom asked as she cracked open the door.

Aly repeated herself, and then Mom took off, racing down the steps two at a time, Aly right behind her. When they reached the kitchen, Brooke was right where Aly had left her, still on the floor, still crying. Sparkly was whining and nudging Brooke’s hair band toward her.

That won’t help anymore, Sparkly! Brooke whimpered through her tears.

Mom bent down, asked Brooke a few questions, touched her arm in a few spots—which made Brooke yell even louder—and then said to Aly, I have to take your sister to the hospital. Please call Joan and tell her what happened. She’ll have to take you to school today.

As much as Aly liked spending time with Joan—who was the girls’ favorite manicurist at their mom’s salon, True Colors—she didn’t like this plan at all. What if something was really wrong with Brooke? What if Brooke needed her? Aly couldn’t go to school. She had to be there for Brooke. The sisters were a team.

Can’t I come with you and Brooke? she asked. To make her feel better?

Mom shook her head. Sorry, Aly, she said. I don’t know what’s going to happen at the hospital or how long it’ll take. You can go straight to the salon after school. Either I’ll be there or Joan will fill you in. You have her number, right?

Aly nodded. It’s on the refrigerator, just like it always is.

Brooke wasn’t crying as hard now, which made Aly feel a little bit better about leaving her. But not all better about it.

Mom ran her hand through her hair, which she hadn’t finished drying, and twisted it into a messy bun. It’s times like these that I wish your father didn’t travel all week long.

Do you think he’ll come home early? Brooke asked, sniffling, as Mom carefully helped her up off the floor.

Let’s call him from the car, Mom said.

Once Mom pulled the door shut behind her, Aly called Joan. And when she started explaining what happened, she found herself crying a little.

I bet that was scary, Joan said.

It was, Aly said, crying a little more now. And what if Brooke’s really hurt?

If Brooke’s hurt, the doctors will make her better, Joan said. Now sit tight, and I’ll be right there to take you to school. Get Sparkly’s leash on too, so I can bring him to the salon.

All day long Aly worried about Brooke. She had trouble paying attention in class. She kept looking at her purple polka-dot watch

Reviews for True Colors

[ilana_weiss_3 · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

I love V.C. Andrews and her books are amazing! I loved this book but I hated what happened in it which made me love it more because it constantly had me on my toes, waiting to see what happened next. Although the characters have a rough life and make stupid mistakes, the ending is amazing and resembles a perfect family.

[kyleekat · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

EXCELENT BOOK.This was my favorite.This book has so many different people for you to get attached to, then when they pass away, you sob for like twenty minutes until you can pick the book up again.When Paul never really got Ruby, and killed himself, that was a powerful part.I never liked Gisselle until she died. Honestly, I thought she was a heartless witch, but when she died, I totally did a 180 and loved her.Ruby is a fighter, if she weren't fictional, she'd be my role model.

[penguinburger · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

This was my favorite book in the Landry series, which is actually my favorite Andrews series. I felt a bigger connection with Ruby and I thought character development was better in this book than in the previous ones.

[kymmayfield · Rating: 4 out of 5 stars]

As the third book in the Landy series, i just completely ate this one up. Ruby leaves the mansion and returns to her home to make a life for her infant daughter. She tries to give her what she didn't have growing up. The love of her life comes back in this story as the night in shining armor plus extreme wealth and gives the baby anything she can ask for. However living the life and dreams does not mean that you forget all the horrible things that have happened before in your life. As Ruby soon finds out in this thriller of a series. I scored it a 4 out a 5. A definite read for suspense lovers.

[saucecav · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Gisselle was bitten by a mesquito